A former Missouri probation and parole officer who later worked at a state correctional center has been charged with killing his wife and kidnapping their children. Investigators say Jonathan G. Houston, 44, confessed to strangling Aunika C. Houston, 37, and had planned the killing in advance. Authorities say some of the couple’s children were forced to assist during the attack and that the woman’s body was later placed in a trash bag and discarded in a hotel dumpster. Houston is being held without bond, while the children have been taken into protective custody.
| 1) | Arrest and charges |
| 2) | Allegations about the killing |
| 3) | Children’s account of the abuse |
| 4) | Investigation and official response |
| 5) | Custody and additional inquiries |
Arrest and charges
Jonathan G. Houston was arrested after one of his children called 911 from a hotel in Kingdom City, Missouri. The child reportedly whispered to dispatchers that Houston had captured the child and six siblings and had physically abused them for years. Deputies went to the Baymont Inn & Suites on Sunday and located the children there.
Houston has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. He is being held without bond. The charges are allegations, and the case will proceed through the criminal justice system.
Allegations about the killing
According to charging documents, one child told deputies that Houston strangled his wife about 10 months before the arrest while some of the children were present. Another child reportedly said Houston had previously stated that he intended to kill his wife, who was later identified as Aunika C. Houston.
Investigators allege that during the attack, Houston gripped his wife by the throat and directed one child to pour hot water onto her legs. Another child was allegedly told to cover her mouth to suppress her screams. Authorities say Houston later placed the woman’s body in a trash bag and threw it into a dumpster on the hotel property.
Children’s account of the abuse
The children’s statements form a central part of the allegations. Court records say Houston locked his three youngest children in a bathroom during the attack and instructed the children in the room to play loud music so that others would not hear their mother’s screams.
The 911 call led deputies to the children at the hotel. Officials said the children were removed from Houston’s care and placed into protective custody. The accounts also prompted investigators to examine allegations of long-term physical abuse within the family.
Investigation and official response
Houston allegedly admitted to investigators that he killed his wife and had planned the act. Authorities said Aunika C. Houston had not been reported missing after her death. The sheriff’s office said she was originally from California and was believed to have lived in central Missouri for several years. Her next of kin was notified.
Callaway County Chief Deputy Curtis Hall described the case as an act of domestic violence and said investigators were working through the timing and limits of information that could be publicly released.
“There is no danger to the community. This seems to be an act of domestic violence and it’s very unfortunate for everybody involved,” Curtis Hall said.
Custody and additional inquiries
The children remain in protective custody following the hotel discovery. Deputies said Houston is also being investigated in connection with an alleged sexual assault and assaults involving other victims. No additional charges related to those allegations were specified in the available information.
Officials said the investigation was already addressing a significant delay because the alleged killing occurred about 10 months before authorities learned of it. The inquiry is expected to continue as investigators review witness accounts, the alleged confession and other evidence.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Houston faces first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping charges. |
| 2 | Authorities say he confessed to killing his wife and planned the attack. |
| 3 | A child’s emergency call led deputies to seven children at a Kingdom City hotel. |
| 4 | The children were placed in protective custody. |
| 5 | Deputies are reviewing separate allegations involving sexual assault and other assaults. |
Summary
The case centers on allegations that a former corrections officer killed his wife after years of abuse and compelled some of their children to participate in or conceal the attack. A child’s discreet emergency call brought authorities to the family and triggered the investigation. Houston remains jailed without bond as prosecutors and investigators pursue the murder, kidnapping and related allegations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What charges does Jonathan G. Houston face?
He faces charges of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping and is being held without bond.
How did authorities find the children?
One of the children called 911 from a hotel in Kingdom City and discreetly reported that Houston had captured and abused the children.
What happened to the children?
Deputies took the children into protective custody after locating them at the hotel.
